Pre-cast security vault

Abstract

An easily constructed highly secure, walk-in vault uses pre-cast panels. A door frame is molded into one of the panels. The panels have interlocking joints with adjacent panels. The interlocking joints are protected with continuous, double burglary-proof seams situated in the interior of the vault. Abutting panels are securely held together by metal rods that penetrate the interlocking joints.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An expandable modular vault comprising: 
       a plurality of panels defining a front wall having a doorway therethrough, a plurality of side walls, a roof and a floor, each panel having peripheral edges and pre-cast from a durable material, the size of the side walls, roof and floor adjustably defined by adding or removing panels; and  
       a door positionable within the doorway and connectable to the front wall, the door controlling access to the walk-in enclosure.  
     
     
       2. The modular vault of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are interlocking panels. 
     
     
       3. The modular vault of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of metal plates positionable along peripheral edges of the panels, each metal plate connectable to another metal plate on an adjacent panel whereby the panels are secured into position. 
     
     
       4. The modular vault of  claim 1 , further comprising metal connectors capable of securing adjacent panels. 
     
     
       5. The modular vault of  claim 4 , wherein the metal connectors comprise bolts. 
     
     
       6. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the durable material is reinforced concrete. 
     
     
       7. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side panels having elongated ridges extending therefrom and the roof has elongated grooves adapted to matingly receive the elongated ridges. 
     
     
       8. The modular vault of  claim 7 , wherein the side panels have elongated grooves adapted to receive elongated ridges of adjacent sidewall panels. 
     
     
       9. An expandable modular vault comprising: 
       a plurality of panels defining a front wall having a doorway therethrough, a plurality of side walls, a roof and a floor, each panel having peripheral edges and pre-cast from a durable material;  
       a door positionable within the doorway and connectable to the front wall, the door controlling access to the walk-in enclosure; and  
       a plurality of metal plates positionable along peripheral edges of the panels, each metal plate connectable to another metal plate on an adjacent panel whereby the panels are secured into position.  
     
     
       10. The modular vault of  claim 9 , wherein the panels are interlocking panels. 
     
     
       11. The modular vault of  claim 9 , further comprising metal connectors capable of securing adjacent panels. 
     
     
       12. The modular vault of  claim 11 , wherein the metal connectors comprise bolts. 
     
     
       13. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the durable material is reinforced concrete. 
     
     
       14. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the side panels having elongated ridges extending therefrom and the roof has elongated grooves adapted to matingly receive the elongated ridges. 
     
     
       15. The modular vault of  claim 14 , wherein the side panels have elongated grooves adapted to receive elongated ridges of adjacent sidewall panels. 
     
     
       16. An expandable modular vault comprising: 
       a plurality of panels defining a front wall having a doorway therethrough, a plurality of side walls, a roof and a floor, each panel having peripheral edges and pre-cast from a durable material;  
       a door positionable within the doorway and connectable to the front wall, the door controlling access to the walk-in enclosure;  
       a plurality of connectors disposable through adjacent panels whereby the panels are secured into position; and  
       a plurality of metal plates positionable along peripheral edges of the panels, each plate adapted to engage another plate on an adjacent panel whereby the panels are secured into position.  
     
     
       17. The modular vault of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of panels are interlocking panels. 
     
     
       18. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the durable material is reinforced concrete. 
     
     
       19. The modular vault as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the side panels having elongated ridges extending therefrom and the roof has elongated grooves adapted to matingly receive the elongated ridges. 
     
     
       20. The modular vault of  claim 19 , wherein the side panels have elongated grooves adapted to receive elongated ridges of adjacent sidewall panels. 
     
     
       21. A method of constructing an expandable modular vault, comprising the steps of: 
       pre-casting a plurality of panels from a durable material, each panel having peripheral edges;  
       positioning the pre-cast panels adjacent peripheral edges to define a floor, a roof and a plurality of sidewalls to form an interlocking walk-in space;  
       adding pre-cast panels to expand the size of the walk-in space; and  
       transporting the vault to the desired location.  
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising positioning metal plates along the peripheral edges of the panels. 
     
     
       23. The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising connecting metal plates on adjacent panels whereby the adjacent panels are secured into position. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of connecting includes welding the metal plates together. 
     
     
       25. The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of welding a metal connector to the metal plates. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of disposing metal connectors through the peripheral edges of adjacent panels whereby the panels are secured into position. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of disposing includes driving metal rods through the peripheral edge of a panel and into the peripheral edge of an adjacent panel and welding metal washers to metal rods protruding from the panel. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , further wherein the step of disposing includes covering the metal washers and metal rods with grouts.